New Oregon Restaurant's Not-So-Secret Ingredient: Marijuana

First, allow me to disabuse you of your long-held notions of pot brownies served at “coffee shops” in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. The Beaver State is going way beyond baked goods. We’re talking full-course entrees.

An eatery called Earth Dragon Edibles Restaurant & Lounge is serving up Mongolian barbecue, rubbed with “special seasonings.” And we’re not talking about the Kung Pao sauce. Patrons are being treated to dishes of meat, tofu, and veggie stir fry lovingly drizzled with varying doses of medical-grade marijuana. The best part is, the food doesn’t even have to taste good. The customers will always have the munchies.

Earth Dragon Edibles, which opened last week, is open to the public, but only card-carrying members of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) state registry program are entitled to herb-spiked versions of meals. Three levels of cannabis content, between 1.75 grams to seven grams, can be added to orders via infused oils.

“Along with the Mongolian theme, we offer an assortment of desserts, Italian food, vegetarian food and specials each day to provide our client base with variety,” boasts the Earth Dragon Edibles’ website. “For the people who like to cook we offer butters, oils, glycerin, and hash oil and for the ones that don’t cook we will be offering cooking classes in the near future. We also provide the only open Hash bar on the west coast and also have a smoking area.”

Located in the town of Ashland, near the Northern California border, the restaurant is already facing opposition from town officials. “They are engaged in an activity that is prohibited by state and federal law,” said city administrator Dave Kanner. “[We] have sent them a letter that their business license has been denied.”

However, Ashland’s law enforcement seems less concerned. "Nobody's life is at risk here,” said Police Chief Terry Holderness. “We will prioritize this appropriately. But ultimately, if they are in violation of the law, they will be shut down."